Hisexpressionchanged。Heknockedtheashesfromhiscigarandfrowned。
\"Isee，\"hesneered。\"Humph！Well，I’vetriedtomakeitplaintoyoufellowsdownherethatIcouldn’tbeheldup。IthoughtI’ddoneit，butevidentlyIhaven’t。Fivehundredisagoodpriceforthatland。Fivethousandisridiculous，butIgaveyoumyreasonsforbeingwillingtoberobbedthatmuch。That，however，isthelimit。I’llgiveyoufivethousand，butnotanothercent。Youcantakeitorgetout。\"
Thiswasbetter。WhenhetalkedlikethatIcouldanswerhimandenjoyit。
\"I’llgetoutveryshortly，\"Isaid。\"YouarenomoreanxioustohavethathappenthanIam。Idon’twantyourothercent。Idon’twantyourfivethousanddollars。I’llsellyouthelandononecondition——no，ontwo。Thefirstisthatyoupaymethirty—fivehundreddollarsforit。\"
\"WHAT？\"
Ihadupsethiscomposurethistime。Heforgottosneer；heevenforgottosmoke。
\"What？\"hecriedagain。\"Thirty—fivehundred！Why，Iofferedyou——\"
\"Iknowyouroffer。Thisismine：Iwillsellyouthelandforthirty—fivehundred，andnotanothercent。That，asyousay，isthelimit。Youcantakeitor——orIwillfollowyoursuggestionandgetout。\"
Welookedateachother。Hisfingersmovedtowardthematchboxonthetable。Hetookamatch，scratchedit，andheldittotheendofhiscigar。Thenhetookthecigarfromhislips，blewoutthematchandtossedthelatterintothefireplace。
\"Whatisthesecondcondition？\"heasked，abruptly。
\"Thatyoupaymeincash，inmoneyandnotbycheck，atonce。\"
\"Atonce？Now，doyoumean？\"
\"Yes，now。To—nightifpossible；ifnot，nolaterthannineo’clockto—morrowmorning。\"
\"Humph！DoyouthinkIcarrythirty—fivehundredlooseinmychangepocket？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Butthatisthesecondcondition。\"
\"Humph！……Lookhere，Paine；what——？Iofferedyouthefivethousand。Thatofferholdsgood。\"
\"Idon’tacceptit。Iwillsellforthirty—fivehundred；nomoreandnoless。\"
\"Butwhynotmore？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Yes，Ido，too。Yousaidoncethatyouwerewillingtopayforty—fivehundredfortheprivilegeofhavingyourownway。PerhapsIamwillingtosacrificefifteenhundredfortheprivilegeofhavingmine。AtalleventsImeanwhatIsay。\"
\"Butwhyjustthirty—five？Wouldn’tyoutakethirty—six？\"
\"No。Itisuselesstoargue，Mr。Colton，anduselesstoaskmyreasons。Ihavethem，andthatisenough。WillyouacceptMY
offer？\"
Hehesitated。Thesneerhadlefthisfaceandhistonewhenheaddressedmewasrespectful，thoughtherewasacuriousnoteofchagrinordissatisfactioninit。Ihadexpectedhimtobeeagerand，perhaps，mockinglytriumphant。Hewasnot。Heseemedreluctant，almostdisappointed。
\"IsupposeI’llhaveto，\"hesaid。\"But，Paine，whatisup？Whyareyoudoingthis？You’renotafraidofme？No，ofcourseyou’renot。You’renotthekindtosquealandliedownbecauseyouthinktheoddsareagainstyou……Confoundyou！\"withasuddenburstofimpatience，\"youareenoughtoupsetalltheself—conceitaman’sgotinhim。JustasIthinkI’mbeginningtosizeyouupyoubreaklooseinanewplace。\"
\"Pardonme，\"Iputin，\"butIdon’tseethatyouarehelpingtosavethatvaluabletimeofyours。Iunderstandthatyouaccept。
Willyoupaymenow？\"
Herose，threwawayhiscigar，and，withhishandsinhispockets，stoodregardingme。
\"Yourmindismadeup，isit？\"heasked。
\"Yes。\"
\"Humph！HaveyouthoughtofwhatourmutualfriendDeanandtherestofthepatriotsmaysaywhentheyfindthisout？\"
Ihadthoughtoflittleelseallthewayfromthebanktohisdoor。
Iwasthinkingofitthen。
\"Ofcourse，\"headded，\"thatisnotmyaffair，but——\"
\"Itisnot。\"
\"You’reright；itisn’t。Still——hangitall，Paine！Idon’toftenfeelanycompunctionswhenIbeatafellowinagamelikethis，andIdidintendtohavemyownwayinthisone——\"
\"Well，you’rehavingit，aren’tyou？\"Iputin。\"Whytalksomuchaboutit？\"
\"BecauseIamnotsosureIamhavingit。OfcourseIcanseethat，forsomereasonorother，youneedthirty—fivehundreddollars。Anyonebutyou，iftheyweregoingtosell，wouldgetthelastdimetheycouldsqueeze。Youwon’t，becauseyouareaspig—
headedas——as——\"
\"Oh，docutitshort，\"Isnapped。Andthen，atrifleashamedofmyrudeness，\"Excuseme，Mr。Colton，butthisisn’texactlypleasantformeandIwanttogetitover。Willyoupaymenow？\"
\"Holdon；letmefinish。Iwasgoingtosaythat，ifyouneededthethirty—five，perhapsIcouldmanagetoletyouhaveit。\"
Istaredathim。\"Letmehaveit！\"Icried。\"Doyoumeanyou’lllendittome？\"
\"Why，yes，maybe。YouandIhavehadsuchafirst—rate，square，standupfightthatIratherhatetohaveitend。Iwanttolickyou，nothaveyouquitbeforeI’vereallybeguntofight。There’snofoolphilanthropyinthis，understand；itisjustformyownsatisfaction。\"
IwassotakenabackbythistotallyunexpectedofferfromthemanwhomIhadinsultedadozentimessinceIenteredhishouse，thatI
founditalmostimpossibletoanswer。
\"Whatdoyousay？\"heasked。
\"No，\"Ifaltered。Andthenmorefirmly，\"No；certainlynot。I——I
ammuchobligedtoyou，Mr。Colton，but——no。\"
\"Allright。Youknowbest。I’lltakeyourofferandIwillhandyouthemoneyatthebankto—morrowmorning。Willthatdo？\"
\"Notatthebank，Mr。Colton。Senditovertothehouse，ifyoucanconveniently。\"
\"I’llhaveitherebeforeten。Mylawyerwilldrawupthepapersandarrangefortransferoftitleinafewdays。What？Going，areyou？Goodnight。Oh——er——Paine，rememberthatmyotheroffer，thatoftheplaceinmyoffice，isopenwhenyou’rereadytotakeit。\"
Ishookmyhead。Ihadturnedtogo，butnowIturnedback，feelingthat，perhaps，Ishouldapologizeagainformyrudeness。
Afterall，hehadbeenkind，verykind，andIhadscarcelythankedhim。SoIturnedbacktosaysomething，Ihardlyknewwhat。
Mydoingsowasamistake。Thedoorbehindmeopenedandavoicesaidreproachfully，\"Father，areyoustillhere？Thedoctorsaid……Oh，Ibegpardon。\"
Irecognizedthevoice。OfallvoicesintheworldIwishedleasttohearitjustthen。MybackwastowardthedoorandIkeptitso。Ifshewouldonlygo！Ifshewouldonlyshutthatdoorandgoaway！
Ithinkshewouldhavegonebutherfathercalledher。
\"Mabel，\"hecried，\"Mabel，don’tgo。It’sallright。Comein。
PaineandIhavefinishedourtalk。Nothingmoreyouwishedtosay，wasthere，Paine？\"
\"No，\"saidI。Iwasobligedtoturnnow；Icouldnotgetoutofthatroomwithoutdoingit。SoturnIdid，andwefacedeachother。
\"Goodevening，MissColton，\"Isaid，withallthecalmnessIcouldmuster。
Shesaid，\"Goodevening，\"distantlyandwithoutanyenthusiasm，butIsawherglanceatherfatherandthenatmeandIknewshewaswonderingwhatourbeingtogethercouldpossiblymean。
\"Painehasbeenmakingmealittlecall，\"explainedColton，hiseyetwinkling。\"Mabel，I’llriskanotherbetthatyoucan’tguesswhyhecame。\"
\"Ishallnottry，\"shesaid，disdainfully。
\"Oh，you’dbetter！No？Youwon’t？Well，then，I’lltellyou。Hehasjustsoldmethatlandofhis……Don’tlookatmelikethat；hehas。Wehadalittledisagreementastoprice，but，\"withagrin，\"Imethisfiguresandweclosedthedeal。Aren’tyougoingtocongratulatehimonhavingcometohissensesatlast？
Come！he’swaitingforcongratulations。\"
Thiswasnottrue。Iwaswaitingfornothing；Iwasonmywaytothedoor。But，toreachitIwasobligedtopassherandoureyesmet。Myglancewavered，Iknow，buthersdidnot。Foramomentshelookedatme。Thenshesmiled。WheneverIamtemptedtobevain，evennow，Irememberthatsmile。
\"Icongratulatehim，\"shesaid。\"Come，Father；youmustgotobednow。\"
CHAPTERXVII
Iamnotgoingtoattemptadescriptionofmythoughtsthatnight。
Itwouldtaketoolongandthedescriptionwouldbewearisome。
Otherpeople’smiseriesarenotinterestingandIshallnotcatalogmine。MorningcameatlastandIrose，bathedmyhotfaceincoldwater，andwentdownstairs。Earlyasitwas，notyetsix，IheardDorindainthekitchenand，havingnodesireforconversation，I
wentoutandwalkedupanddownthebeachuntilbreakfasttime。I
hadtopretendtoeat，butIatesolittlethatbothLuteandDorindaoncemorecommenteduponmylackofappetite。Lute，whohadneverbecomefullyreconciledtomybecomingamemberoftheworkingclass，hastenedtolaytheblameformyconditionuponmylaborsatthebank。
\"Thetroubleis，\"heannounced，dogmatically，\"thetroubleis，Roscoe，thatyouain’tfittedforbein’shutupasternofadeck。
Lookatyourselfnow！JustgointoComfort’sroomandstandinfrontofherlookin’glassandlookatyourself。Thereyoube，paleandpeakedandworeout。LookforalltheworldjustasI
donewhenIhadthetonsilstwowintersago。Ain’tthatso，Dorindy？\"
Hiswife’sanswerwasacontemptuoussniff。
\"Ifyoumeantosaythatyoulookedpeakedwhenyouhadsorethroat，\"sheannounced，\"thenthere’ssomethin’thematterwithyourmindoryoureyesight，oneort’other。Youpeaked？Why，yourfacewasswelleduplikeayoungone’sballoonFourthofJulyDay。
Andasforbein’pale！Mysoul！IgiveyoumywordIcouldn’tscurcelytellwhereyourneckleftoffandthestripofredflannelyoumademetie’rounditbegun。\"
\"Don’tmakenodifference！IFELTpale，anyhow。AndIdidn’teatnomore’nRosdoes。You’llhavetogiveintothat，Dorindy。I
didn’teatnothin’butbeefteaandgruel。\"
\"Youetenoughofthemtofloataschooner。\"
\"MaybeIdid，\"withgrieveddignity；\"maybeIdid。Butthat’snoreasonwhyyoushouldsetthereandheavemysufferin’sinmyface。\"
\"Whatisthemantalkin’aboutnow？Ididn’theave’eminyourface。Theycometherethemselves，sameassorethroatsufferin’sgenerallydo，andifyouhadn’twadedaroundinthesnowwithleakyboots，becauseyouwastoolazytotake’emtotheshoemaker’stobepatched，theywouldn’t。\"
Lutedrewbackfromthetable。\"It’snouse！\"hedeclared，\"amancan’tevenbesickinpeaceinthishouse。Somewiveswouldhavebeensorrytoseetheirhusbandswithonefootinthegrave。\"
\"Yourfeetwasinthecookstoveovenmostofthetime。There！
there！themoreyoutalkthefurtherfromhomeyouget。YoustartedinwithRoscoeandthebankandyou’reinthegravealready。IfIwasyouI’dquitaforeIwentanyfurther。Landknowswhereyoumightfetchupifyoukepton！I……Mercyonus！who’satthekitchendoorthistimeinthemornin’？\"
Herhusband，evercurious，wasonhiswaytoanswertheknockalready。Hecameback，amomentlater，sputteringwithexcitement。
\"It’sthatMr。butler，theJohnsonovertoMr。Colton’s，\"hewhispered。\"Imeanit’sthatJutler——that——There，Dorindy！youseewhatsortofastateyourhectorin’hasworkedmeinto！It’sthatparsoncritterwhoopensColton’sdoorforhim，that’swho’tis。AndhewantstoseeRos。Itriedtofindoutwhatfor，buthewouldn’ttell。\"
EvenDorindashowedsurprise。Shelookedattheclock，\"Thishourofthemornin’！\"sheexclaimed；\"whatintheworld——？\"
Ihastenedtothekitchen，closingthedining—roomdoorbehindmejustintimetopreventLute’sfollowingme。Johnson，thebutler，wasstandingonthemicaslabatthethresholdinspectingourhumblepremiseswithloftydisdain。
\"Mr。Coltonsentthistoyou，sir，\"hesaid，handingmeanenvelope。\"Hewishesyoutosendareceiptbyme。\"
Itooktheenvelopeand，steppingbackoutofsight，toreitopen。
InsidewasacheckonaNewYorkbankforfourthousanddollars。
Itwasmadepayableto\"Bearer。\"Withitwasthisbriefnote：
DearPaine：
ThisisthebestIcandoforyou，asIhaven’tthemoneyonhand。
Cashityourself，takeoutyourthirty—fivehundredandholdtheadditionalfivehundreduntilI，oroneofthefamily，callforit。
ImadethethingpayabletoBearerbecauseIimaginedyouwouldpreferitthatway。SendmesomesortofreceiptbyJohnson；
anythingwilldo。Iwillseemylawyerinadayortwo。Meanwhilehaveyourpapers，deeds，etc。，readywhenhecallsforthem。
Yourstruly，JAMESW。COLTON。
ForaminuteIconsidered。IfIcouldcashthecheckatthebankwithoutTaylor’sknowledgeandgethimofftoBostonontheearlytrain，Imightbeabletocovermytracks。Itwasnecessarythattheyshouldbecovered。KnowingGeorgeasIdidIknewthathewouldneverconsenttomysacrifice。HewouldnotpermitmetowreckmyfutureinDenborotosavehim。ThemoneymustbeturnedovertotheBostonbankersandthebank’sbondsoncemoreinthevaultwheretheybelongedbeforehelearnedwherethatmoneycamefrom。Thenitwouldbetoolatetorefuseandtoolatetoundowhathadbeendone。HewouldhavetoacceptandImightbeabletoprevailuponhimtokeepsilentregardingthewholeaffair。I
dislikedthecheckwithColton’snameuponit；Ishouldhavemuchpreferredthecash；butcash，itseemed，couldnotbehadwithoutconsiderabledelay，andwiththatbankexaminer’svisitimminenteverymomentoftimewasvaluable。Ifoldedthecheck，putitinmypocketbook，and，hastilyscribblingareceiptinpencilatthebottomofColton’snote，replacedthelatterintheenvelopeandhandedittoJohnson，whodeparted。
Enteringthedining—roomIfoundDorindaandLuteatthewindow，peeringafterthebutler。
\"Bytime！\"exclaimedLute，\"ifIdidn’tknowIshouldsayhewasabiggerbig—bugthanoldColtonhimself。Lookhowhestruts！Hesartinisadignifiedlookin’man。Idon’tseehowheevercometobejusthiredhelp。\"
\"Um—hm，\"sniffedthecynicalMrs。Rogers。\"Well；youcangetanawfullotofdignityforitsboardandlodgin’！There’snothin’
muchmoredignifiedorstrutsmuchbetter’narooster，butit’sthehensthatlaytheeggs。Whatdidhewant，Roscoe？\"
ImadesomeexcuseorotherforMr。Johnson’searlycalland，takingmycapfromtherack，hurriedfromthehouse。Iwent\"acrosslots\"and，runningagoodpartoftheway，reachedthebankjustasSamWheelerwassweepingout。Heexpressedsurpriseatmyearlyarrivalandwishedtoknowwhatwasup。
\"Ain’tnothin’wrong，isthere，Ros？\"askedSamanxiously。\"Isawbythepaperthatthemarketwasfeverishagainyesterday。\"
Samwasanambitiousyouthand，beingdesirousofbecomingabankerintheshortestpossibletime，readthefinancialpagewithconscientiousthoroughness。Iassuredhimthatthemarket’sfeverwasnotcontagious——atleastIhadnotcontractedthedisease——andsenthimouttosweepthefrontsteps。AssoonashehadgoneI
openedthesafe，found，tomyjoy，thatwehadanabundanceofcurrencyonhand，cashedtheColtoncheckandlockeditsecurelyinthedrawerofmyowndesk。SofarIwassafe。NowtosecureGeorge’ssafety。
Hecameinsoonafter，lookingasif，ashehadtoldme，hehadnotsleptforyears。HebadeSamgoodmorningandthenwalkedovertomyside。
\"Well，Ros？\"heasked，layingashakinghandonthedeskbesideme。
\"Nothere，George，\"Iwhispered。\"Comeintothedirectors’room。\"
Iledthewayandhefollowedme。Iclosedthedoorbehindus，tookthethirty—fivehundreddollarsinnotesfrommypocketandlaidthemonthetable。
\"There’sthemoney，George，\"Isaid。\"Nowyou’vegotjusttimeenoughtocatchthatnineo’clocktrainforBoston。\"
Ithought，foramoment，hewasgoingtocollapsealtogether。Thenhepounceduponthemoney，counteditwithfingersthattrembledsohecouldscarcelycontrolthem，andturnedtome。
\"Ros——Ros——\"hestammered。\"Wheredidyou——howdidyou——GreatGod，man！I——I——\"
\"There！there！\"Iinterrupted。\"ItoldyouIwasn’tapauperexactly。Putthatwhereyouwon’tloseitandclearout。Youhaven’tanytimetoargue。\"
\"But——but，Ros，Ihadn’toughttotakethisfromyou。Idon’tseewhereyougotitand——\"
\"That’smybusiness。Willyougo？\"
\"Idon’tknowasIevercanpayyou。LordknowsI’lltryallmylife，but——\"
Iseizedhisarm。\"George，\"Iurged，impatiently，\"youfool，don’twastetime。Getthattrain，doyouhear！Thosebondsmustbeinthatsafebynight。Go！\"
Thementionofthebondsdidwhatmyurginghadfailedtodo。Hecrammedthebillsintohispocketbook，thrustthelatterintoaninsidepocket，andrushedfromtheroom。Ifollowedhimasfarastheouterdoor。Hewasrunninguptheroadlikeawildman。Samstaredafterhim。
\"Formercysakes！\"hecried，\"what’sthematterwiththeboss？Hashegoneloony？\"
\"No，\"Isaid，turningbacktomydesk；\"he’ssaneenough，Iguess。
He’safterthetrain。\"
\"Ishouldthinkhewasaftersomethin’。Didyouseethefacehehadonhim？Ifheain’tcrazythenyouandIare，that’sallI’vegottosay。\"
\"Allright，Sam，\"Ianswered，drawingalongbreath，\"perhapsthat’sit。PerhapsyouandIarethecrazyones——oneofus，atanyrate。\"
AllthatdayIworkedhard。Ididnotgohomeforlunch，butsentSamovertoEldredge’sstoreforcannedhamandcrackerswhichI
ateatmydesk。Itwasafairlybusyday，fortunately，andIcouldalwaysfindsometasktooccupymymind。Lutecalled，attwoo’clock，toinquirewhyIhadnotbeenhomeandItoldhimthatTaylorwasawayandIshouldbelateforsupper。Hedeparted，shakinghishead。
\"It’sjustasIsaid，\"hedeclared，\"you’reworkin’yourselfsick，that’swhatyou’redoin’。You’regrowin’foolishintheheadaboutwork，justthesameasDorindy。AndYOUdon’tneedto；you’vegotmoneyenough。IfIhadindependentmeanssameasyou’vegotItellyouI’dhavemoresense。Onesickinvalidinthefamily’senough，ain’tit？\"
\"Nodoubt，Lute，\"Ireplied。\"Atalleventsyoumusttakecareofyourhealth。Don’tYOUworkyourselfsick。\"
Luteturnedonme。\"Itrynotto，\"hesaid，seriously；\"Itrynotto，butit’sahardjob。Youknowwhatthatwifeofmineiscal’latin’tohavemedonext？Washthehenhousewindow！Yessir！washthewindowso’sthehenscanlookatthescenery，I
presumelikely。Isaystoher，saysI，’ThatbeatsanyfoolishnesseverIheard！Nextthingyou’llwantmetoputdownacarpetinthepigsty，won’tye？Youwouldifwekeptapig，Iknow。’\"
\"Whatdidshesaytothat？\"Iinquired。
\"Oh，thelandknows！Somethin’aboutkeepin’onepigbein’troubleenough。Ididn’tpaymuchattention。ButIshan’twashnohen’swindow，nowyoucanbetonthat！\"
Ishouldn’thavebetmuchonit。Hewentaway，tospendthenexthourinapoliticaldebateatEldredge’s，andIwroteletters，needlesslylongones。ClosingtimecameandSamwenthome，leavingmetolockup。Thetrainwasdueatsix—twenty，butitwasnearlysevenbeforeIhearditwhistleatthestation。Istoodatthefrontwindowlookinguptheroadandwaiting。
Iwaitedonlyafewminutes，buttheywerelongones。ThenIsawGeorgecoming，notrunningthistime，butwalkingwithrapidstrides。Thecrowd，waitingonthepost—officesteps，shoutedathimbuthepaidnoattention。Hesprangupthestepsandenteredthebank。Isteppedforwardandseizedhishand。Onelookathisfacewasenough；hehadthebonds，Iknewit。
\"Ros，youhere！\"heexclaimed。\"Isitallright？Theexaminerhasn’tshowedup？\"
\"No，\"Ianswered。\"Youhavethem，George？\"
\"Rightinmypocket，thanktheLord——andyou，RosPaine。JustletmegetthemintothatsafeandI——What！You’renotgoing？\"
\"Yes，I’mgoing。Icongratulateyou，George。Iamasgladasyouare。Goodnight。\"
\"ButRos，Iwanttotellyouaboutit。Iwanttothankyouagain。
Inevershallforget……Ros，holdon！\"
ButIwasalreadyatthedoor。\"Goodnight，\"Icalledagain，andwentout。Iwentstraighthome，atesupper，spentahalfhourwithMother，andthenwenttomyroomandtobed。Theexcitementwasover，forgoodorbadthethingwasdonebeyondrecall，andI
suddenlyrealizedthatIwasverytired。Ifellasleepalmostimmediatelyandsleptsoundlyuntilmorning。Iwastootiredeventothink。
Ihadplentyoftimetothinkduringthefortnightwhichfollowedandtherewasenoughtothinkabout。ThelawyercameandthepapersweresignedtransferringtoJamesW。ColtonthestripoflandoverwhichDenborohadexciteditselfformonths。EachdayI
satatmydeskexpectingCaptainDeanandadelegationofindignantcitizenstorushinanddenouncemeasatraitorandaturncoat。
EverytimeSamWheelermetmeatmyarrivalatthebankIdreadedtolookhimintheface，fearingthathehadlearnedofmyactionandwaswaitingtoquestionmeaboutit。Inspiteofallmyboastsandsolemnvowsnottopermit\"BigJim\"ColtontoobtaintheShoreLaneIhadsoldittohim；hecould，anditwastobeexpectedthathewould，closeitatonce；Denborowouldmakeitsjustdemanduponmeforexplanations，explanationswhich，forGeorgeandNellie’ssake，Icouldnotgive；andafterthatthedeluge。IwassittingoverapowdermineandIbracedmyselffortheexplosion。
Buthoursanddayspassedandnoexplosioncame。ThefishcartsrattleddowntheLanewithouthindrance。ExceptforthelittleflurryofexcitementcausedbythecomingweddingattheDeanhomesteadthevillagelifemovedonitslazy，uneventfuljog。I
couldnotunderstandit。WhydidColtondelay？He，whoseoneobjectinlifewastohavehisownway，haditoncemore。Nowthathehaditwhydidn’themakeuseofit？Whywasheholdingback？
Outofpityforme？Ididnotbelieveit。Muchmorelikelythathisdaughter，whoseprideIhaddaredtooffend，hadtakentheaffairinherhandsandthisagonyofsuspensewasapreliminarytorture，apartofmypunishmentforpresumingtoactcontrarytoherimperialwill。
Isawheroccasionally，althoughItriedmybestnottodoso。
OncewepassedeachotheronthestreetandIstubbornlykeptmyheadturnedintheotherdirection。Iwouldrisknomorelookssuchasshehadgivenmewhen，inresponsetoherfather’swould—behumoroussuggestion，shehadofferedmeher\"congratulations。\"
Once，too，Isawheronthebay，IwasaboardtheComfort，havingjustanchoredafterashortcruise，andshewentbyinthecanoe，hernewestplaything，whichhadarrivedbyfreightafewdaysbefore。AcanoeinDenboroBaywasadistinctnovelty；probablynotsincethedaysoftheIndianshadoneofthelight，gracefullittlevesselsfloatedthere，andthisonecarriedmuchcommentamongtheoldsaltsalongshore。Itwasthegeneralopinionthatitwasnocraftforsaltwater。
\"Themthings，\"saidZebKendrick，sagely，\"areallrightforpondsorriversorcrickswherethereain’tnotidenorsearunnin’。
Floatanywhereswherethere’saheavydew，theysaytheywill。Butnodarterofmineshouldgooutpasttheflatsinoneof’emifI
hadthesay。It’stoobigarisk。\"
\"Yup；well，Zeb，youain’tgotthesay，Ical’late，\"observedThophNewcomb。\"Andittakesmore’nsaytogetaskifflikethatone。
Theytellmethemetalworkaboardherissilver—plated——silverorgold，Iain’tsurewhich。Wondertheoldmandidn’tmakeitsolidgoldwhilehewasaboutit。He’ddoanythingforthatgirlifsheaskedhimto。Andshesartindoeshandleitlikeabird！Shewentbymydoryt’othermornin’andIswantomanifsheandthecanoetogetherwan’tasightforsoreeyes。Isetandwatchedherfortwentyminutes。\"
\"Um——ye—es，\"gruntedZeb。\"Andthenyouchargedthetwentyminutesinagainsttheday’sworkquahaugin’youwassupposedtobedoin’
forme，Isuppose。\"
\"Youcantakeoutthetencentswhenyoupayme——ifyoueverdo，\"
saidNewcomb，gallantly。\"’Twaswuthmore’nthatjusttolookather。\"
ThetimehadbeenwhenIshouldhaveagreedwithThoph。Sittinginthecanoe，bare—headed，herhairtossinginthebreeze，andherroundedarmsswingingthelightpaddle，shewasasightforsoreeyes，doubtless。Butitwasnotmyeyeswhichweresore，justthen。Iwatchedherforamomentandthenbentovermyengine。I
didnotlookupagainuntilthecanoehaddisappearedbeyondtheColtonwharf。
IdidnottellMotherthatIhadsoldtheland。Iintendedtodoso；eachmorningIrosewithmymindmadeuptotellher，andalwaysIputoffthetellinguntilsomeothertime。Iknew，ofcourse，thatsheshouldbetold；thatIoughttotellherratherthantohaveherlearnthenewsfromothersasshecertainlywouldatalmostanymoment，butIknew，too，thateventoherIcouldnotdisclosemyreasonforselling。ImustkeepGeorge’ssecretashehadkeptmineandtaketheconsequenceswithaclosemouthandasmuchofmyoldindifferencetopublicopinionasIcouldmuster。
ButIrealized，onlytoowell，thattheindifferencewhichhadoncebeenrealwasnowonlypretense。
IhavesaidverylittleaboutGeorgeTaylor’sgratitudetome，norhisappreciationofwhatIhaddoneforhim。ThepoorfellowwouldhavetalkedofnothingelseifIhadlethim。
\"You’vesavedmygoodnameandmylife，Ros，\"hesaid，overandoveragain，\"andnotonlymylife，butwhatisamightysightmoreworthsaving，Nellie’shappiness。Idon’tknowhowyoudidit；I
believeyetthatthereissomethingbehindallthis，thatyou’rekeepingsomethingfromme。Ican’tseehow，consideringallyou’vesaidtomeaboutyournotbeingwell—off，yougotthatmoneysoquick。ButIknowyoudon’twantmetotalkaboutit。\"
\"Idon’t，George，\"Isaid。\"AllIaskofyouisjusttoforgetthewholething。\"
\"Forget！Ishan’tforgetwhileIlive。And，assoonaseverIcanscrapeittogether，I’llpayyoubackthatloan。\"
Hehadkepthisword，sofarastellingNellieofhisfinancialconditionwasconcerned。Hehadnot，ofcourse，toldherofhisuseofthebankbonds，buthehad，ashesaidhewould，toldherthat，inallprobability，heshouldbeleftwithnothingbuthissalary。
\"Itoldhershewasfreetogivemeup，\"hesaid，withemotion，\"andwhatdoyousupposeshesaidtome？Thatshewouldmarrymeifsheknewshemustliveinthepoorhousetherestofherdays。
Yes，andbehappy，solongaswecouldbetogether。Well，Iain’tworthit，andItoldherso，butI’lldomybesttobeworthsomething；andsheshan’thavetoliveinthepoorhouseeither。\"
\"Idon’tthinkthere’smuchdangerofthat，\"Isaid。\"And，bytheway，George，yourLouisvilleandTranscontinentalspeculationmaynotbeallloss。Youmaysavesomethingoutofit。Therehasbeenconsiderabletradinginthestockduringthepasttwodays。Itisuphalfapointalready，accordingtothepapers。Didyounoticeit？\"
\"Yes，Inoticedit。ButItellyou，Ros，Idon’tcare。I’llbegladtogetsomeofmymoneyback，ofcourse；enoughtopayyouandCap’nElishaanyhow；butI’msohappytothinkthatNellieneedneverknowIwasathiefthatIdon’tseemtocaremuchforanythingelse。\"
Nelliewashappy，too。Shecametomeandtoldmeofherhappiness。
ItwasallonGeorge’saccount，ofcourse。
\"Thepoorfellowhadlostmoneyininvestments，\"shesaid，\"andhethoughtIwouldnotcareforhimifIfoundouthewaspoor。Heisn’tpoor，ofcourse，butifhewasitwouldmakenodifferencetome。IamsogladtoseehimwithoutthatdreadfulworriedlookonhisfacethatI——I——Oh，youmustthinkmeawfulsilly，Roscoe！I